The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team lost at Conference Carolinas leading Barton College 58-43 this evening at Wilson Gymnasium. Barton clinches at least a share of the regular season championship as it moves to 21-3 overall. The Lady Bulldogs are 17-1 in league play and have locked up the No. 1 seed for the league tournament. The loss leaves Belmont Abbey at 11-13 overall and 10-8 in the conference.

The Abbey, which posted a 35-30 rebounding advantage, was only 17-of-44 from the field (38.6 percent), including 2-of-13 (15.4 percent) from three-point land. Shayla Jackson finished with team-highs of 12 points and 10 boards to record her fourth double double of the year.

Barton guard Nyeshea Willie scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting and senior point guard Jamila Johnson had a stellar outing with 12 points, eight assists, six rebounds and just one turnover for the Lady Bulldogs.

Despite hitting just four of its first 17 shots, the Lady Bulldogs were up 10-6 since Abbey made only 3-of-12 to start the game and was hampered by turnovers. Jannetta Robinson moved the Barton lead to 19-8 midway through the half with a jumper, but Abbey responded with a 5-0 run to close within 19-13 on a 3-pointer from freshman forward Melisa Foures.

Barton quickly pushed the lead to 14 points at 32-18 early in the second half behind a layup from sophomore forward Jolanda Mitchell and a three-pointer from Willie.

The inside play of junior forward Paula Regalado and the playmaking of freshman point guard Candace Fox sparked an Abbey comeback that pulled it within 36-32, but two jumpers from Kelsey Sill squashed the rally midway through the half, and then the Lady Bulldogs gradually pulled away for the victory.